CLEVELAND — On a personal level, Joe Girardi is interested in the Roger Clemens trial, which opens in Washington today, because Clemens was a Yankees teammate of Girardi.
As the manager of the Yankees, Girardi isn’t sure what impact it will have on the club.
“I don’t know if it will affect us. I don’t know if there will be guys who will be subpoenaed,” said Girardi, who said he hasn’t been subpoenaed.
Asked if Yankees staff members are slated to testify, general manager Brian Cashman offered a “no comment.”
Clemens is charged with perjury, providing false statements and obstruction of Congress for telling a House committee under oath he never used steroids or human growth hormone.
The trial could last six weeks, and Andy Pettitte, a former teammate and close friend of Clemens, is expected to testify.
“Obviously, you worry about the people,” Girardi said. “It’s not something you want for baseball.”
Derek Jeter shared a clubhouse with Clemens as a Yankee and a house when they were teammates with the USA squad during the World Baseball Classic. Jeter will be following the developments.
“I am interested to know what happens,” Jeter said. “I don’t know a lot to this point.”
Mariano Rivera feels for his former teammates.
“That is a very tough, tough situation,” Rivera said.
Jorge Posada is intrigued enough to follow it.
“Hopefully we can watch some of it,” Posada said.